Sabah winger Joy-Lance Mickels has shared emotional message with the fans after missing out to on international selection for Rwanda’s upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Benin and South Africa in October due to horrible injury. Mickels was ruled out of Rwanda’s World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Benin and South Africa after sustaining a serious back injury late in club’s 2-0 away win against Karvan Yevlakh in the Azerbaijan Premier League on Sunday, October 5. The 31-year-old, who had opened the scoring from the spot, suffered an injury on his back after colliding with Karvan Yevlakh's goalkeeper in the 90+11th minute of stoppage time and was unable to get back to his feet. He initially received medical treatment on the pitch and was later taken to a local clinic by club ambulance. “It deeply saddens me that, after being called up to the national team for the very first time, I suffered a serious rib injury in 92nd minute just one day before our planned departure,” Mickels wrote on his Instagram account. “I was excited as a child to finally experience this moment, especially to be part of such important World Cup qualification matches against Benin and South Africa.” “Nevertheless, I am truly grateful for the call-up and for the trust placed in me. I firmly believe that God has a different plan for me and I accept it with faith and humility. I will now be the team’s number one fan, cheering celebrating and supporting you all from afar,” he added. Mickels currently leads the Azerbaijan Premier league scoring charts with four goals after seven matches, a performance which convinced Rwanda FA to hand him a debut call up in Amavubi. Rwanda welcome Benin to Amahoro Stadium on October 10 before taking on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on October 14.
